To those who have not done
it, or have not been around folks that have, homeschooling can seem downright
weird. I used to be one of those! I wondered just how wise it was to isolate
children by keeping them in the home instead of giving them the opportunity to
rub shoulders with their peers every day. Wouldn't they become some kind of
strange misfits that had no idea how to interact with their own kind? (Funny
that I would think that because I was actually a bit of a misfit that didn't
know how to interact with my own kind—and I was schooled in public
and private schools!)
Let me tell you, my
perspective has changed—a lot—since then. Why do I choose to homeschool my
child now? For a variety of reasons—some protective, some religious, and some
“constructive.”
1.) Protective
As of
January 2012, California public school teachers are now required by law to
teach even very young children about alternative lifestyles. Call me politically
incorrect, but I really, really don't want my six-year-old being taught that by
anyone other than her father or me.
2.) Religious
I believe the Bible to be not only absolute truth, but also historic fact and I
want my child learning the history of the world from that perspective. “In the
beginning” was a literal 7-day creation by Creator God!
3.) Constructive
Homeschooling is not easy. There, I said it. (I suppose that shouldn’t be a
surprise, as parenting isn’t easy and homeschooling is just more parenting!) A
couple weeks ago I had a run-in with my very strong six-year-old during
schooling. It was not pleasant and I have to admit that I had romantic visions
of sending her off on a big yellow school bus running through my head at the
time. I was asking myself, “Why do I do this? This is so frustrating and I just
don’t think we’re making any progress! Wouldn’t we both be happier if I just
sent her to school? She would have fun being with other kids all day and I
would have a nice quiet day to do just what I’d like to do!” Believe me, that
really, really sounds wonderful some days.
But then
God, in His grace, helped me to see what is actually being accomplished in
those unpleasant run-ins with my daughter. We maybe aren’t getting her addition
facts memorized like I would like while battling one another, but we are
working on major character issues that I might not have become aware of if she were
away at school every day. Or I might not have become aware of them until she
was 12—or 16—making it much harder to deal with at that age!
It began
to dawn on me just what a wonderful thing it is to have my child with me day in
and day out… I know her much better than any outside teacher, no matter how
caring and capable. My husband and I are much more qualified to address issues of character
with our child than anyone else. And by being with her, not only in the morning and
evenings but also all throughout the day, I have the fabulous opportunity to work
through these character issues with her as they arise. What a wonderful
gift!
So, like Galatians 6:9 encourages,
“Let us not lose heart in doing good, for in due
time we will reap if we do not grow weary,” I am fixing my eyes on Jesus as I move
forward in my homeschool endeavor with determination, hope, and joy.
And, oh yeah, there’s
one more reason I chose to homeschool… it’s downright fun sometimes!
